Escutcheon plate



Jan 6, 1931. R. MARPLE 1,787,988

'ESCUTCHEON PLATE Filed Sept. 9, 1926 #370070 lffii, 4 W @4 4 by the escutcheon plate,

Patented Jan. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROLLO MARBLE, OBI CHARLOTTE, MICHIGAN,-ASSIGNOR TO HANCOCK MANUFACTUR- ING 00., OF CHARLOTTE, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN ESCUTCHEON PLATE Application filed September 9 1926. Serial No. 134,349.

This invention relates to door latch assemblies for automobiles, and more particularly pertains to escutcheon plates for such assemblies.

It has been the commonly accepted practice in this art to provide an escutcheon plate for a door latch assembly which is made in the form of a. stamped metallic shell. This method of construction leaves a sharp edge around the edge of the shell which is quite objectionable in that the sharp edge so provided mars and cuts the enamel or paint on the door. Such cuts weaken, and sometimes crack, the enamel beyond the area covered with the result that an unsightly appearance is presented around the edge of the plate.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple means whereby the edges of an escutcheon plate will be held away from the surface of the member on which the plate is mounted.

A more specific object is to provide a filler for ,an escutcheon plate which will present a,

smooth bearing surface to a door while preventing the contact with the door of any cuttin or wearing parts of the escutcheon plate.

(. ther objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

1 igure 1 is a view of a door latch operating assembly showing in section the preferred form of the invention. 3

Fig. 2 is a plan vieW of the preferred form of the filler plate.

Fig. 3 is a view of the escutcheon plate and the device spread apart. a

While I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed'in the appended claims.

I have chosen merely for the purpose of illustrating this invention an ordinary type of door operating means comprising a handle 5 adapted to operate a door latch from the exterior of a vehicle. Rigid with the handle the usual operating member (3 which extends into the door '7 through an opening therein. This opening, according to the usual practice, is concealed by means of an escutcheon plate 8.

The usual method of construction of the escutcheon is to form a shell of any desirable design having a central opening 9 through which the operating member extends. The escutcheon is adapted to be secured to the door in a suitable manner shown herein as by screws 10, the heads of Which engage appropriate recesses 11 in the escutcheon, and it will be readily apparent that the relatively sharp edged rim 12 of the escutcheon will tend to engage the highly finished surface of the door 7, resulting in a cutting and cracking of the enamel.

In carrying out.,the objects of this ,invention, I prefer to employ a sub-shell or escutcheon filler 13, which is arranged to provide a substantially solid back wall for the shell-like escutcheon 13. The filler as shown here comprises a plate having a back 14 which I have provided a filler which telescopes snugly into the escutcheon plate and which, due to the diite rences in the heights of the rim on the escutcheon12and the rim 17 on the filler, will present a flat surface above the escutcheon. When the assembly is mounted, as shown in Fig. 1, on the door of a vehicle, the flat back surface 14 of the filler will rest on the surface of the door and will prevent any part of the escutcheon from touching or rubbing against the door, whereby damage to the finish of the door is eliminated.

In practice the escutcheon'plate and the be assembled during filler would usually supplied to the manufacture and the unit (not shown) trade with the handle assembly. For this door and adapted to hold said face plate in reason, it is preferable that the filler be constructed to fit very snugly in the escutcheon plate to prevent accidental separation therefrom.

I claim as my invention:

1. A latch operating mechanism having an esoutcheon plate including a peripheral rim and adaptedto be secured to a door, and a filler positioned between said escutcheon and said door, said filler comprising a flat base and a peripheral rim, said rim being constructed to fit telescopically into said rim on said escutcheon, said rim on said filler being slightly wider than said rim on the escutcheon whereby the base of said filler will extend outwardly beyond the edges of said rim on said escutcheon to hold said escutcheon from contact with said door.

2. An escutcheon plate for automobile latches and the like comprising, in combination, a pair of interfitting flanged members having a snug frictional engagement between said flanges to secure said members together as a unit and to prevent separation thereof when not attached to the door, the outer one of said members being formed to present a finish'ed outer surface, and the inner one of said members having a smooth back surface to abut against the surface of a door without marring the finish thereof, the interfitting relation of the members being such that contact of the outer member with the underlying door portions is prevented.

3. An escutcheon unit for automobile door latches and the like, comprising an outer or face plate adapted to be secured to the door, an inner filler plate interposed between said door and said outer plate, said plates having inturned peripheral flanges of unequal widths frictionally interengaging to maintain. the face plate and inner filler plate in proper relationship when not attached to the spaced relation to said door whenattached thereto.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ROLLO MARPLE. 

